B.C. Has Highest Poverty Rate says Study
By 250 News
Thursday, December 11, 2008 01:11 PM
A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says B.C. has the highest poverty rate in the Country and has had the highest child poverty rate for five years straight.
“BC needs a plan with clear, legislated targets and timelines that can be used to measure progress and hold a government accountable,” says Marjorie Griffin Cohen, report co-author and a professor at Simon Fraser University “Accountability is the key. Without legislated targets, we risk promises instead of action,” says Cohen.
“The need is clear and the solutions are known. Other provinces and countries have developed poverty reduction plans and are getting results,” says Seth Klein, CCPA-BC Director and co-author of the report. “Our targets are ambitious but achievable. There is nothing inevitable about poverty and homelessness in a society as wealthy as ours.”
“The need is clear and the solutions are known. Other provinces and countries have developed poverty reduction plans and are getting results,” says Seth Klein, CCPA-BC Director and co-author of the report. “Our targets are ambitious but achievable. There is nothing inevitable about poverty and homelessness in a society as wealthy as ours.”
The targets for action would see
- a reduction in poverty by one third (from 13% to 9% using Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut-Off after tax) within four years;
- an equal or greater reduction in poverty among groups that are most vulnerable to poverty — recent immigrants, children, single mother families, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and single senior women;
- elimination of deep poverty (those living 50% or more below the poverty line) within two years; and
- elimination of street homelessness within five years.
- Make major improvements to working conditions and pay for low-wage workers, who are the majority of BC’s poor. Raise the minimum wage, strengthen employment standards and actively enforce minimum workplace protections.
- Increase welfare rates by 50% and remove arbitrary barriers to accessing welfare that keep people in dire need from getting assistance.
- Immediately start building 2,000 units per year of social housing (not counting conversions, rental subsidies or shelter spaces).
- Implement a universal public early learning and child care program.
In all, the report contains over 50 specific policy recommendations.
The authors of the report say British Columbians want action on reducing poverty, as was evident in a recent Environs poll which showed
The authors of the report say British Columbians want action on reducing poverty, as was evident in a recent Environs poll which showed
- 87 per cent of British Columbians believe the Premier should set concrete targets to reduce poverty;
- 77 per cent said that in the face of a recession, governments should focus even more effort on supporting the poor; and
- 74 per cent said they would be more likely to support a provincial political party that pledged to make poverty reduction a high priority.
“The vast majority of British Columbians want to see a plan of action. Here is a concrete plan,” says Klein. “All that is needed now is the political will to act.”
Previous Story - Next Story
Email
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.usReturn to Home
Posted by: MrPG on December 11 2008 2:27 PM